The Israeli raid on the Gaza flotilla that resulted in the deaths of eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American has led Israel and its supporters to argue (see The Weekly Standard, 5/31/10) that the Turkish government and a prominent Turkish humanitarian organization are “terrorist” sympathizers with ill intentions toward Israel and the United States. In a series of articles (e.g., New York Times, 6/8/10, and Washington Post, 6/7/10), the U.S. corporate press has joined in.
Today, the Washington Post reports that IHH, the Turkish aid group involved with the flotilla that attempted to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, has a “dual message of aid and confrontation.” Their evidence for the confrontational attitude of IHH? A banner on the side of their building that reads, “Israel, murderers, hands off our boats!” Don’t pay attention to the fact that IHH was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and that it was Israel that confronted and killed people on the ship.
The Post goes on to report claims that IHH has links to Al-Qaeda, citing a 2006 report by “U.S. terrorism investigator” Evan Kohlmann. But two paragraphs down, the Post quotes a “think tank with ties to Israel’s Defense Ministry, the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center,” that states there is “no known evidence of current links between IHH and ‘global jihad elements.'”
What’s not mentioned in the Post article is that no government besides Israel considers IHH a terrorist organization (The Christian Science Monitor, 6/1/10). In fact, IHH delivered humanitarian aid to Haiti in the aftermath of the January earthquake at a time when the United States military took a leading role in directing relief efforts there. Would the U.S. have allowed a terrorist organization into Haiti? IHH has also helped out in New Orleans (New York Times, 5/31/10).
Marsha B. Cohen (Mondoweiss, 6/4/10), an expert on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, has already debunked IHH’s “terror ties,” and cast doubt on the credentials of Evan Kohlmann, pointing to a Spinwatch.org article on Kohlmann that thoroughly details his lack of expertise. Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, noted (Alternet, 8/6/08) that Kohlmann assisted in the prosecution of Osama bin Laden’s former driver by producing a film that was “pure propaganda,” raking in $45,000 for the film and his testimony as an “expert witness” in the much criticized trial.
But be scared! According to the Post:
In the group’s two-story headquarters, IHH members — mostly men in their 30s and 40s dressed in jeans or casual business attire — oversee operations in dozens of countries. The group provides humanitarian aid such as freshwater wells and medical care, as well as Islamic services such as training for prayer leaders. A world map on one wall depicted Palestine, but not Israel.
Use a bandage, go to Bagram
Lies never die. Last night on the Colbert Report, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren was able to spew the same nonsense about “70 armed thugs” with “guns” on the boats, without the slightest raised eyebrow from Colbert. Transcript: http://lefti.blogspot.com/2010/06/stephen-colbert-no-greater-friend-of.html
We live in a crazy world…..when the biggest “terrorists,” with all the weapons, all the drones, with nukes, and WMD’s etc are calling everyone else “terrorists…..” Enough already….
Peace with Justice,
Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA
Eli Stephens I saw that Colbert and I think you should at least watch it again and realize that everyone (at least in a Colbert audience) is expecting Israeli views from the Israeli ambassador but Colbert’s last question lets everyone know the one-sidedness of the ambassador’s whole premise. But I agree we should be watching these shows and be critical because here is where many young people actually form their views. Stewart is basically straight but Colbert needs hmm? pondering? reconfiguring?
First of all the so called freedom flotilla was not loaded with, or funded by peace loving, non confrontational,activists.Not to paint with too wide a brush-But some if not many on board were prepared, and practiced in repelling by force- Israeli commandos determination to enforce the blockade.Just reference the film.They moved at light speed to club to death with iron bars, Israeli boarders and were in turn shot and killed for their troubles.I would wager innocents sadly were also killed in the fighting.That is usually the outcome in such actions.But lets take a trip to look into the “Mother Teresa types”who put this all together for a better understanding of the dynamics..
The imam who is building the mosque on ground zero is part of the group that was involved in funding the anti Israeli flotilla.Immam Feisal abduleis a key figure in the Milaysian based Perdona Global peace org.They are the biggest donors $366,000,000 for the free Gaza movement.And who are some members of that?Why our own homegrown bomber terrorists William Ayers and Bernadine Dorn(Obama buds).Other ties…IHH,Muslim Brotherhood,Al Qaida and Hamas.Osama Bin Laden has openly admitted that these NGO “charities” have been the primary backers of world wide terrorism against nations that practice Democracy.They are in fact Al Quadas main source of funding.Other examples are the Benevolance international foundation.Global relief foundation.Taibah International aid association.All now banned- and leaders arrested by the uS gov.The IHH has been tied to many terror actions including within the US.They also ship arms I.e Bombs ,guns,and various other weapons to terrorist organizations around the globe.
Look folks the confrontation with these ships was in terrorist print networks for weeks.I was reading of it 6 weeks prior.The talk was not peaceful.Some Israelis(stupidly)were armed with paint guns and rubber bullets. Look -You have every right to disagree with a blockade on humanitarian grounds.But if a Libian ship is boarded in waters heading for Cuba, and an organized attack ensues on American sailors simply doing their job…….People will get hurt.Many I am sure had their hearts in the right place on those ships.They were doups and pawns in this political show.The real motivation and money behind this,are the terrorist networks trying to re open their weapon smuggling routs that have been pinched off by Isralis who are not so easily fooled.
Michael,
If Israel is so right, why won’t they release the hours of footage confiscated during the raid? What are they afraid of us seeing? Why did they block all communications during the raid? Why did they appear to have a hit list with them? Why were there people shot even before the boarding? If we leave these questions up to Israel’s “internal investigation” we will never know the answers. Israel needs to come clean and face the consequences of their illegal actions.
BTW, many of the dead protesters have been shown to have been shot in the back of the head. How do you do that by accident? According to Retired US Ambassador Ed Peck, the Israelis were fully armed with deadly force but happened to have paint guns mounted on their M-16s. Also, the IDF’s new technique of shooting tear-gas canisters at people’s heads appeared to be well used here as well as at the resulting protest march. If someone gets killed by this, they have a built-in excuse. “we were using non-lethal force”. The actions of the troops are not nearly as infuriating as the state-sponsored apologists who spend every waking moment attempting to justify whatever stupidity Israel commits. This should be the incident that breaks the “special relationship” to shards. But then again, if attacking the USS Liberty didn’t do it, what will?
Tin Foil
I have already heard all these (and more)accusations in the blogosphere,and news and media reports.Notice the world body in the UN is not using any of these so called “proof positives” in their charge against Israel.Their charge deals strictly with Israel’s right to interdict any ship on the high seas bound for the embargoed area.If they could charge Israel with Murder and massacre on the sea lanes unprovoked- I promise you they would.They will not because it is obvious to all what happened here.Wether or not there was any misuse of lethal force will always be up for debate and investigation.A thorough review would be helpful.But the film we have all seen leaves little doubt to one simple fact(unless it is a fake shot in Tel aviv.)The soldiers boarding were resisted immediately.It was an organized mob.It is not news that many on the ship said they would resist.There were these firebrands on board and they were vocal.All will come eventually down to “should the Israeli commandoes of allowed their heads to be splattered across the decks like ripe mellons, or used lethal force to save themselves”.Because once that force was given- people were going to die.One man swinging a bar downward over and over into a soldier is clearly seen taking a burst from another soldier on deck into the back of his head and torso.Is that murder?Several were shot( on film) in the act of smashing the bodies of these sailors.From behind, from beside,from the front, AND from above- as more commando’s dropped in.It is called a fight sir.And innocents will die as well as combatants.You can bet on it.
If I had a wish, it would be that the ship had been boarded to non resistance.Cleared and allowed to move on.Or told to turn back and that compliance would be given to the navy charged with keeping the embargo, till that time when the political powers that be have arrived at agreement.It was common knowledge…..COMMON knowledge sir that there were those on board who resist.Israeli commandoes came prepared for all eventualities……. except backing down.
to media-ocracy
The daly telegraph,Washington post, and the wall street journal all believe the group has strong links to terror. They are a member of THE UNION OF GOD which Palestinian intel says is the biggest supporter of Hamas. Israel and the Us has designated this as a terrorist front. The CIA believes them tied to the LAX bombing…and Al Quaida. Turkey herself admitted to tracking IHH ties for at least ten years.The IHH walks a fine line due to its aknowleged philinthropic actions.Remember in the mob world there are those who well down the line launder the money and pass it back.They claim clean hands.The truth is usually a bit more complex.
michael e,
Send my warm regards to the GIYUS. Oh, and I’m sure your paycheck is in the mail.
Someone(israel) threw a rock in to hole, now all people try to find it. There are easy ways to approche what happened(IHH, Israel..) in last weeks. As a person, I try to understand each both side. I try to give all my attentions; but I can’t understand how Israel government has secret things from their people, world.. I hope they don’t think everyone’s sleeping. Even when I read comments in this article, people don’t sleep, as they think. And for bloody day, actually bloody days that they caused; we all have to came up with right true evidenceS, unprejudiced ideas..
established firms.
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I am not rattling wonderful with English but I line up this very leisurely to interpret.
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